Located
in southeast Ohio, Hocking Hills State Park is developed in a terrain underlain
by Mississippian siliciclastics, the most spectacular of which is the Blackhand
Sandstone. The sandstone forms huge cliffs, narrow, deeply incised valleys
and some beautiful waterfalls. There are miles and miles of hiking trails,
a state park lodge and rental cabins. The Blackhand was deposited in lower
delta plain to delta front environments. There are some flat-pebble conglomerates
that were probably deposited in massive offshore-bar environments. The
trail through Old Man’s Cave valley is a sedimentologist’s dream come true.

Thomas M. Berg, Ohio State
Geologist

Details:Phone: 740/385-6841
Web: www.hockinghillspark.comDirections: From Columbus: Take U.S. 33 East through Lancaster to Logan,
and exit onto State Route 664 South. The park is off 664 South about 12
miles from Logan.
Keweenaw
Peninsula, Michigan

The Keweenaw Peninsula juts into Lake Superior in the northernmost area
of the state. It is formed of Middle Proterozoic volcanic and sedimentary
rocks and sits on the southern flank of the Lake Superior Syncline at the
northwestern end of the mid-continent rift system. The basalts and conglomerates
contain native copper, making the peninsula the site of a large copper
mining industry from the 1840s to the late 20th century. Specimens of native
copper, agates, and other collectible minerals can still be found. While
on the peninsula, visitors should stop at the Seaman Mineral Museum located
on the campus of Michigan Technological University.

Hal Fitch, Michigan State
Geologist

Details:Phone: 906/337-3168
Web: www.nps.gov/keweDirections: Keweenaw National Historical Park: The Quincy Unit is just
north of Hancock, along U.S. Highway 41. The Calumet Unit is in and around
Calumet, about 8 miles north of the Quincy Unit on U.S. Highway 41.

Jay
Cooke State Park, Minnesota

Lee Dund works at the Illinois Geological Survey but likes to venture
north once in a while to Jay Cooke State Park. “The gorge at Thomson Dam
is awesome! Plenty of hiking trails,” Dund says.

Falls of the Ohio State Park is in Jeffersonville, just across the Ohio
River from Louisville, Ken., and a mile within I-65. From the Visitors
Center, take a complimentary tour of the exposed fossil beds (no collecting
is allowed). Phone: 812/280-9970. Web: www.fallsoftheohio.org